Mark 11:27-33

Controversy over authority

27 Jesus and his disciples entered Jerusalem again. As Jesus was walking around the temple, the chief priests, legal experts, and elders came to him.

28 They asked, "What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?"

29 Jesus said to them, " I have a question for you. Give me an answer, then I'll tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things.

30 Was John's baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me."

31 They argued among themselves, "If we say, ‘It's of heavenly origin,' he'll say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'

32 But we can't say, ‘It's of earthly origin.'" They said this because they were afraid of the crowd, because they all thought John was a prophet.

33 They answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus replied, " Neither will I tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things."